Holassie Surprises Himself With 15k Win

January 5, 2003|By Sharon Robb STAFF WRITER

Ronnie Holassie, less than a month away from the Feb. 2 Toyota Prius Miami Tropical Marathon, was looking only to gauge his fitness level and high-mileage training at Saturday's Bank of America Gasparilla 15K Distance Classic.

The two-time Olympian from Miramar never expected to win the race. Holassie averaged even 5-minute miles, the pace he wants to run the marathon in, and ended up winning the overall men's title in 46 minutes and 40 seconds in his 15K debut.

Holassie, 31, a groom at Calder and Gulfstream race tracks, went out fast and never relinquished the lead. He was never challenged by the rest of the men's field and said he ran virtually alone for the entire race. He went through the first three miles in 14:40, the 5K in 15:10 and the 10K in 30:40.

"Going into the race I was a little tired," Holassie said. "I had put in over 100 miles of training this week and was coming off a couple 120-mile weeks. I have had a hard few weeks of training. I just wanted to test myself and see if I am on schedule. It's tough to run high mileage and then come to race."

Holassie, who is coming off a severe hamstring injury that has sidelined him for nearly a year, felt a slight twinge late in the race, but said he is nearly 100 percent. He plans on running next Sunday's Walt Disney World Half Marathon, which he won two years ago.

"I was pretty happy," Holassie said. "I felt my hamstring a little bit, but I think it was because I overstretched. I really wasn't pushing the pace at all because I had to run by myself. I think if I had been pushed I could have run 43 or 44 minutes. This was more like a training run.

"It was ideal race conditions. The weather was perfect and if the field had been fast, a world record could have been broken today. I think I am right on schedule. I will be ready for the marathon. This was a big win and very good for my confidence."

Aldo Virano was 11th in the 15K. Joel Cardoso of Hollywood, training for the Disney Marathon, injured his knee and may not compete next weekend in Lake Buena Vista.

Victor Fox of Hollywood outsprinted Bruce Wilkie of Hollywood to win his second title in the fourth annual USLA Southeast Region 2-Mile Paddleboard Series Saturday off Fort Lauderdale beach.

In three races, Fox has two firsts and one second and leads the series. Fox won in 25:20 and Wilkie was 19 seconds behind in ideal weather and water conditions.

The series continues today before the Scott Mundell Memorial Delray Beach Ocean Rescue Mile Swim at Anchor Park. Mundell, an All-American swimmer from Florida State and a well-liked lifeguard, died at age 32 of brain cancer.

The paddleboarding event begins at 8:30 a.m., followed by the swim at 9:30 a.m.